A new job advert from Sainsbury’s has caused a stir online.
The supermarket chain is currently looking for an artist to help redesign its canteen in its Camden outlet.
The only issue is, it appears Sainsbury’s does not plan to pay any money to the artist who gets the nod.
The advert, spotted by comedian Adam Hess has since gone viral, with many criticising Sainsbury’s for asking for free labour.
https://twitter.com/adamhess1/status/730869749438160896
@adamhess1 @sainsburys But don’t you know Adam that Artists don’t need to buy food or pay bills ? They live on air and smiles
— ajogle (@ajogle) May 13, 2016
@adamhess1 @TheDaiLlew Oh, @sainsburys. Huge PR as well as moral fail. “Exposure” is not a fair wage. And under cover of diversity, too.
— CheshireKaz (@CheshireKaz) May 13, 2016
@adamhess1 @sainsburys ‘salvage the energy of our staff’? Whoever thought this up needs sacking
— sharonb (@spannermagnet) May 12, 2016
Many picked red flag phrases that normally indicate unpaid work.
@adamhess1@sainsburys ‘Your work will contribute to our success’. Not *your* success, you notice?
— Craig (@KuangEleven) May 12, 2016
@adamhess1 @sainsburys “diverse communities in which you can be a part of”. A diverse use of English. And also awful, exploitative crap.
— Toby Hadoke (@TobyHadoke) May 12, 2016
@adamhess1 @seb_ly “As a leading UK retailer, @sainsburys…” cannot afford to pay you. pic.twitter.com/3vVbGOc5DE
— Colm Morgan (@carmat71) May 13, 2016
It’s devolved into a minor PR gaffe for Sainsbury’s as people continue to ask how one of the leading supermarkets in the UK cannot pay someone for the job role.
@adamhess1 @SamirTalwar @sainsburys That’s not fair. It’s not like they had a revenue of nearly £24 billion last year, or anything…
— Anthony Hillman (@axlreznor) May 13, 2016
@adamhess1 @danthat @sainsburys FFS Sainsburys pay people for their work will you?? Can’t you afford it with your 280m profit?
— Marcus (@fusermarucs) May 13, 2016
JOE contacted Sainsbury’s press office for comment on this story and was given this statement.
“We’re discussing this with our store in Camden. The advert was placed in the local paper following a colleague discussion around ways to improve the canteen and offer an opportunity to the local community. It is not our policy to hire volunteers and we are sorry for this error of judgement.”
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